[Press Release] : Severe weather awareness week begins

[Press Releases]

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of
Columbia’s Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided
links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Zim Schwartze, OEM Director - (573) 874-7400

Severe weather awareness week begins
Residents urged to have a disaster plan!

COLUMBIA, MO (March 4, 2010) - Spring officially begins in a little
more than two weeks and with the new season comes the possibility of
severe weather. The Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management
(OEM), in conjunction with the State Emergency Management Agency and
National Weather Service, will hold its annual observance of “Severe
Weather Awareness Week” beginning on Monday, March 8. The week is an
effort by these agencies to inform and remind the public of the dangers
that accompany severe thunderstorms. The week is also designed to
encourage businesses, schools, and families to update their plans in the
event of a tornado.

“We’ve been lucky for the past couple of years that we have not
seen a major outbreak of severe weather in Columbia and Boone County,”
says OEM Director Zim Schwartze. “Over the past five years over 300
tornadoes have been reported in Missouri. Those tornadoes have killed 39
people, injured 526 and left millions of dollars in damage.

People reduce their chance of injury and death by being adequately
prepared for the type of severe weather we see in mid-Missouri. Knowing
what to do or where to go when severe weather threatens can be the
difference between life and death.”

The highlight of Severe Weather Awareness Week will be a statewide
tornado drill planned for Tuesday, March 9, at approximately 1:30 p.m.
At that time, the Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management
will activate the outdoor warning sirens across the county, schools will
conduct drills with staff and students, and businesses will practice
their emergency plans.

- 30 -
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/

______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or
subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and
follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/index.php